![]() Photo courtesy Department of Defense - Defense Visual Information Center Left: Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise Right: USS Sacramento support ship, USS Reid frigate |
Because aircraft carriers are so valuable, because they are so powerful and because they are so few in number (the U.S. has only 12 of them, with two under construction [ref]), they are very obvious targets for enemy forces. Aircraft carriers are also huge and impossible to hide. They are vulnerable from several different angles:
- The enemy can attack from the sea with boats equipped with long-range cannons and cruise missiles.
- The enemy can attack from underwater with submarines, mines and torpedoes.
- The enemy can attack from the air with airplanes, bombs and missiles.
The carrier battle group is responsible, therefore, for protecting the aircraft carrier at the center of the group.